Double thickness separator for bottle carriers



Oct. 12, 1965 w ss 3,211,357

DOUBLE THICKNESS SEPARATOR FOR BOTTLE CARRIERS Filed Nov. 6. 1961ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,211,357 DOUBLE THICKNESS SEPARATOR FORBOTTLE CARRIERS Arthur J. Weiss, Bergenfield, N.J., assignor toContinental Can Company, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled Nov. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 150,281 7 Claims. (Cl. 22928) Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my copending application SerialNo. 2,225, filed January 13, 1960, for Separator for Bottle Carrier nowPatent No. 3,166,228.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bottlecarriers, and more particularly relates to a new and useful separatorfor use in conjunction with bottle carriers.

The essential requirements of a carrier for bottles, such as soft drinkbottles, include a carton which may be Wrapped around a plurality ofbottles and engaged be- .neath the bottoms thereof, the bottles passingthrough suitable openings in the top portion of the carton. The cartonis usually provided with uppermost grip means and a separatorintermediate the bottles to prevent the bottles from striking each otherand the resultant chipping or breaking of such bottles.

The present invention relates to a separator for bottle carriers of thetype having cartons which are wrapped around a series of bottles, forexample, six bottles, and secures together the bottles as a unit. Thiscarton is an elongated blank which is placed over the necks of bottles,wrapped beneath the bottoms of the bottles and connected together. Inorder to maintain the simplicity of the carton, it is desirable that theseparator for the bottles be separate and independent from the carton inits initial state. It is to this type of separator that the presentinvention relates.

Separators of this type are known and generally consist of a rectangularpanel of paperboard material having a central portion partially strucktherefrom to provide lateral partition elements which are hingedlyconnected to portions of the panel and swingable from the plane of thepanel to laterally extending positions on each side of the panel. It isalso known that a more substantial and stronger separator of this typemay be formed by providing a double panel thickness, each panel havingthe beforementioned hingedly connected partition elements struck fromthe body portions of the panels. In such a double panel arrangement theindividual panels are placed or folded into back-to-back relationshipand present individual hinge connections which are adjacent but slightlydisplaced so that the hingedly connected partition elements of eachpanel may be swung out of the plane of the panels to laterally extendingpositions on each side of said panel. The individual partition elementsof each panel, being in back-to-back relationship, compositely formpartition members. It is apparent that when such separators are placedbetween two rows of bottles with their partition members extendinglaterally therefrom and between adjacent bottles in such rows, eachbottle will be generally separated from the other bottles containedwithin the carton.

In a great many uses to which these cartons and separators are put, theprotection between adjacent bottles is found to be entirely adequate.However, when the bottle carriers utilizing such separators aresubjected to a great deal of jarring around, movement, and vibrationsuch as normally occurs during railroad shipment, portions of thebottles therein carried have been found to come into contact with eachother and chippage, cracking, or breaking of the bottles has occurred.Themain causes of these "ice shortcomings have been located and it is totheir elimination that the herein disclosed invention is directed.

When the partition elements of previous separators were swung from theirposition in the plane of their panel member to their extended positions,they exposed central openings located within the body of each panel.This was caused by the displacement of the lateral partition elementsfrom their generally centrally located positions to their laterallyextended ones. The central openings located within the panel memberbodies enabled adjacent bottles to contact each other. The panel bodyportions that enclosed such central openings were not, in all cases,extensive enough to prevent such bottle contact.

Another area which has been found to cause problems when previous bottlecarriers were subjected to vigorous forces such as applied thereto byrailroad shipment, has been located between adjacent bottles in a singlerow. On occasion, it has been found that the length to which a partitionmember or element extends to each side of its panel body has not beenadequately long enough to prevent portions of the bottles from extendingpast the protective lengths of such partitions and thus coming incontact with each other. This also presents problems of chipping,breaking and cracking as hitherto mentioned.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aseparator for use in a bottle carrier, which separator adequatelyprovides protection for adjacent bottles between two rows of bottles andbetween adjacent bottles in each row of bottles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a separator foruse in a bottle carrier, which separator comprises two longitudinallydisposed panels and provides for separation between both laterally andlongitudinally adjacent bottles when placed between two rows of bottles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a very simple andinexpensively formed separator for use in conjunction with bottlecarriers of the carton type, which separator is formed from first andsecond panel members, each panel member providing partially struck outpartition elements hingedly connected to the body of their respectivepanel members which partition elements may be swung out of the plane oftheir respective panel member to a position laterally extending on eachside thereof, the partition elements of one panel being in generalback-to-back relationship to the partition elements of the other paneland hinge connections of the partition elements being adjacent andslightly offset so as to permit the partition elements of respectivepanels to remain in back-to-back relationship when swung out of theplane of their respective panels to thus form laterally extendingpartition members which are greater in length than either of thepartition elements that comprise them.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a very simple andinexpensively formed separator for use in conjunction with bottlecarriers of the carton type, which separator is comprised of twohingedly connected panel members, the first of the panel members havingseparate generally centrally located partition elements partially struckfrom the panel body and the second panel member having a singlegenerally central partially struck out portion also defining partitionelements, each partition element having hinge connections to the bodyportion of their respective panels, the hinge connections of one panelbeing adjacent and slightly offset to the hinge connections of the otherpanel so that the partition elements may be laterally swung out of theplane of their respective panels to thus form laterally extendingpartition members, the centrally separated partition elements of thefirst panel thereby providing a transverse panel body portion forseparating centrally adjacent bottles in opposed rows.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel separator for usein a bottle carrier for separating the individual bottles within acarrier to prevent the engagement of the bottles with each other, theseparator being formed from a folded blank comprising first and secondpanel members, the first panel member being provided with a partiallystruck out central portion defining two partition elements hingedlyconnected to the body of the first panel and centrally separated along azig-zag line providing each partition element with opposed edges havingextending fingers thereon, a second panel member having two spacedcut-outs each defining a separator element which is hingedly connectedto the body of the second panel and in adjacent and slightly offsetrelationship to the hinge connections of the first panel partitionelements so that the partition elements may be swung out of the planesof their respective panels to a laterally extended position wherebyadjacent bottles in rows are separated by composite laterally extendingpartition members which are of greater lateral extent than either of thepartition elements comprising them and the centrally adjacent bottlesbetween rows separated by a transverse body portion of the second panel.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bottle carrier in which theseparator is operatively placed, the bottles being omitted from thecarrier for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the separator of FIGURE 1, and showsthe specific details thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the section line 33of FIGURE 1, and shows the specific details of the relationship betweenthe separator and the bottles disposed within the bottle carrier.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the separator is formed.

The bottle carrier illustrated in FIGURE 1 is generally referred to bythe numeral 5, and is designed for carrying six bottles B. The bottleshave been omitted from FIGURE 1 for purposes of clarity, although theyare illustrated in FIGURE 3. The bottle carrier 5 is formed of two basiccomponents.

The bottle carrier 5 includes a carton 6 which extends above the lowerportions of the bottles B. The carton 6 is not a part of this inventionas such, and therefore will not be fully described. This carton isformed from a single elongated blank which is formed to define an upperportion 7 having two rows of openings 8 formed therein for the receptionof necks of bottles B. The upper portion 7 is provided with two or moreholes 9 through which the carrier with bottles B contained therein maybe grasped for ease in transport. The carton 6 also includes a bottomportion 10 which is formed by overlapping fiaps 11 and 12, the flaps 11and 12 being secured together by means of a plurality of tabs 13, eachof the tabs 13 underlying and being in alignment with a pair of bottlesB.

The bottle carrier 5 also includes a bottle separator, which isgenerally designated by the numeral 14. The bottle separator 14 isvertically disposed within the confines of the carton 6 and serves toprevent contact of the bottles B with each other, thus preventing damageto the individual bottles.

As is best illustrated in FIGURE 4, the separator 14 is formed from ablank 15 which is generally rectangular in outline and which is formedof a suitable economical material such as paperboard or the like. Theblank 15 is provided with top and bottom cut-out portions, as at 16, 17,which enable the ultimate user of the carrier structure to slip his orher fingers through the holes 9 and not be confronted with the annoyanceof a flush separator member. The blank 15 is provided with alongitudinal hinge line 18 which is formed by fold lines 20 and cuts,which cuts define tab members 19. This allows the blank to be foldedupon itself and thus present a double panel separator of addedstructural strength and containing the novel features of the inventionwhich will hereinafter be explained. The thus formed hinge line 18divides the blank into upper and lower panels 21, 22. The body of theupper panel is provided with a centrally located cut-out 23 whichdefines a pair of partition elements 24 and 25. The partition elements24, 25 are separated centrally along a transversely directed zig-zagline 26 which defines complementary fingers 27 on the opposed ends ofpartition elements 24, 25. The ends of the partition elements 24, 25that are remote from the centrally disposed zig-zag line 26 are providedwith small generally rectangular integral extending sectors 28 which arestruck from the upper panel 21. The partition elements 24, 25 areintegrally connected to the upper panel 21 along transversely disposedhinge lines 29 which may have slits cut therein for ease in folding. Thehinge lines 29 of each of the partition elements 24, 25 are alsotransversely aligned.

The bottom panel 22, which is identical in outline to the upper panel 21except along its hinged portion, is provided with two centrally cut outbut separate partition elements 30 and 31 which are struck from the bodyof bottom panel 22 along lines 32 and 33. The partition elements 30 and31 are hingedly connected to inwardly projecting portions 34 along hingelines 35 which may have slits cut therein for ease in folding. The hingelines 35, which for respective partition elements 30, 31 aretransversely aligned, separate each partition element 30, 31 generallyinto two portions or sectors 36 and 37. It can be seen that thelongitudinal extent from the hinge line 35 to the outer extremity ofsector 36 is greater in extent than that of sector 37 and thataccordingly, sectors 36 are greater in longitudinal extent than theircorresponding sectors 28 in upper panel 21. Furthermore, central sectors38 of upper partition elements 24, 25 are greater in longitudinal extentthan the corresponding bottom sectors 37 of partition elements 30, 31.Thus, as hereinafter will become more clear, it can be seen that whenthe panel members 21 and 22 are folded upon each other in back-to-backrelationship to thus present partition members 40, 41 each formed of onepartition element from each panel, each partition member will be ofgreater longitudinal extent than the longitudinal extent of either ofits comprising partition elements. As is obvious from the drawings, thepartition elements 30, 31 are separated by a body portion or web 39 thatcentrally traverses panel 22.

The separator 14 is normally stored and shipped in its blank state, asshown in FIGURE 4. When it is desired to use the separator 14, it isfolded upon itself so as to present the upper and lower panels inback-to-back relationship. The panels 21, 22 may be conveniently securedtogether, as by gluing. The now back-to-back pairs of partition elements24, 30 and 25, 31 which compositely form partition members 40, 41,respectively, are swung about the hinge lines 29, 35 to their laterallyextending positions, as shown in FIGURE 2. It will be noted that toenable one each of the partition elements of respective panels 21, 22 tobe swung out of the general plane of the separator, the respective hingelines 29, 35 are slightly longitudinally offset from one another.Movement of the partition members 40, 41 from their position generallywithin the plane of the back-to-back panels 21, 22 may be with easeaccomplished by applying force in a generally perpendicular direction toseparator 14 against sectors 28 when the separator is in its flatback-to-back folded position, and thus push the compositely formedpartition members 40, 41 into a plane which extends substantially atright angles to the general plane of the separator 14.

After the separator 14 has been thus formed and appears as shown inFIGURE 2, the separator is dropped into position between a group of sixbottles B. The carton 6 is then positioned over the tops of the bottles,with the neck portions of the bottles B passing through the openings 8and the flaps 11 and 12 then Wrapped beneath the bottoms of the bottlesand the tabs 13 subsequently interlocked to form the complete package.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 3 in particular, wherein therelationship between the separator, the carrier and the bottlescontained therein and the reasons for the particular structure ofseparator 14 are more explicitly shown than in any other figure of thedrawings. It can be seen in FIGURE 3 that the separator comprised ofback-to-back panels 21, 22 extends longitudinally between two adjacentrows of bottles. The laterally extending partition members 46, 41 arecomprised of partition elements 2 1-, 30 and 25, 31, respectively, andextend between adjacent bottles in the aligned rows of bottles. Fromthis view, the particular advantages that stem from the herein describednovel structure of the separator can be clearly envisioned. From thecentral portion of FIG- URE 3, it can be seen that the therein locatedadjacent bottles are completely separated from each other in a directionperpendicular to the general plane of the separator 14 by the verticallyextending body portion 39 of panel 22. Hitherto known separators formedof backto-back panels and having identically shaped partition elementsstruck from similarly shaped and aligned cutout portions do not providefor this added separation between the centrally adjacent bottles. Thisis an extremely important aspect of the present invention and throughits provision and use, bottles may be shipped in the instant typecarriers in railroad cars and other forms of transport that wouldsubject the carriers and the bottles located therein to violent jarringand other such forces that would cause chipping or breakage of thecentrally adjacent bottles if it were not for the vertically disposedbody portion or web 39 of panel 22 that provides for more completeseparation of the centrally disposed bottles.

Another important feature of the present invention is further obviousfrom FIGURE 3 wherein it can be seen that the over-all lateral extent ofthe partition members 40, 41 is greater than that of either of thepartition elements 24, 30 and 25, 31 that make up such partition members4t 41. This is accomplished by the provision of two complementaryfeatures which include the zigzag line 26 that separates opposedpartition elements 24, 25 of panel 21 which permits the combined lateralextent of partition elements 24, 25 to be greater than the lateralextent of the cut-out portion 23, and the provision of partitionelements 24, 25 having sectors 38 extending centrally of their hingesand of greater extent than sectors 28 which extend apart from theirhinges and partition elements 30, 31 having sectors 36 extendingcentrally of their hinges and of greater extent than sectors 37 whichextend apart from their hinges. The lateral extent of partition members4t), 41 will thus be greater than the lateral extent of any one of thepartition elements 24, 25, 30 or 31. In this way, improved separationbetween the adjacent bottles in any one row is obtained.

Another important feature of the present invention which also isapparent from FIGURE 3 is that of providing for more adequate andcomplete separation between the non-centrally disposed bottles locatedadjacent each other and in the outermost positions of the carrier. Thisis accomplished by providing partition elements 24, 25 with a relativelysmall integrally extending sector 28 which thus leaves a relativelygreat amount of material in the body of panel 22 available forseparating the outermost disposed adjacent bottles.

Still another important features of the present invention becomesapparent from a consideration of FIGURES 1 and 2 wherein the reasons forblanking the separator so as to provide tabs 19 are clearly shown. Asshown in both FIGURES l and 2, the tabs 19, cut as they are fromseparator blank, raise the separator from the bottom portion 10 of thecarton 6 and thus require less material such as paperboard or the liketo be used in the formation of the separator. Also, the invertedU-shaped cuts that are formed between tab members 19 allow for thelocking tabs 13 to extend therethrough and thus add to the rigidity ofthe bottle carrier 5 while locking bottom flaps 11 and 12 together.

It is thus apparent that applicant herein has provided a novel separatorof relatively simple construction which affords more complete separationbetween bottles in a carrier of the herein disclosed character than washeretofore thought possible. More complete separation is accomplishedbetween bottles adjacent each other in respective rows both in outermostand centrally located positions as well as between bottles adjacent eachother in any one row of bottles. The importance of such completeseparation of the bottles by the longitudinal panel body portions andthe lateral partition members of such separators cannot beoveremphasized. Not only does this novel separator provide the addedprotection from breakage and chippage desirable from both the shippersand the receivers standpoint, but further affords increased bottleprotection which is insisted upon by the railroads controlling theshipment of such products. The present novel separator provides moreadequate and complete separation between all the bottles located in acarrier of the herein disclosed type and thereby allows bottles to beshipped in railway cars with increased safety.

I claim:

1. A separator for use in a bottle carrier adapted to separate rows ofbottles and adjacent bottles in each row comprising an elongated bodyadapted to extend between two rows of bottles, said elongated bodycomprising first and second panels disposed in back-to-back relationshipand integrally connected together along a pair of cooperating edges,said first panel having partition elements partially struck from thecentral portion thereof and being hingedly connected to said first panelalong spaced aligned lines, opposed edges of said first panel partitionelements being separated along a zig-zag line whereby the combinedlength of said first panel partition elements is greater than the lengthof the space from which said first panel partition elements are struck,said second panel having partition elements partially struck fromcentral portions thereof and being hingedly connected to said secondpanel along spaced aligned lines, the partition elements of said firstpanel being in back-to-back relationship to the partition elements ofsaid second panel to thus form composite partition members, the hingeconnections of said first and second panel partition elements of eachpartition member being cooperatively adjacent each other for movement ofthe composite partition members out of the plane of said elongated bodyto positions extending laterally to each side of said elongated body,and the overall length of each of said partition members being greaterthan the length of either of the partition elements forming saidpartition member.

2. A separator for use in a bottle carrier adapted to separate rows ofbottles and adjacent bottles in each row comprising an elongated bodyadapted to extend between two rows of bottles, said elongated bodycomprising first and second panels disposed in back-to-back reationship, said first panel having partition elements partially struckfrom the central portion thereof and being hingedly con nected to saidfirst panel along spaced aligned lines, said second panel havingpartition elements partially struck from central portions thereof andbeing hingedly connected to said second panel along spaced alignedlines, the partition elements of said first panel being in back-tobackrelationship to the partition elements of said second panel to thus formcomposite double thickness partition members, the hinge connections ofsaid first and second panel partition elements of each partition memberbeing cooperatively adjacent each other and along lines widely spacedfrom the ends of said partition elements for movement of the compositepartition members as units out of the plane of said elongated body topositions extending laterally to each side of said elongated body, andthe over-all length of each of said partition members being greater thanthe length of either of the partition elements forming said partitionmember.

3. A blank for forming a separator for use in a bottle carrier, saidblank being composed of paperboard and being generally rectangular inoutline, said blank comprising first and second panels integrallyconnected along a centrally disposed longitudinal hinge line, said firstpanel having a single central cut-out portion defining two panelpartition elements adapted to be swung out of the plane of said blankwith each first panel partition element projeeting to opposite sides ofsaid blank, each of said first panel partition elements being integrallyconnected to said first panel along spaced aligned transverse hingelines, opposed edges of said first panel partition elements beingseparated by a generally zig-zag line to form opposed zigzag edges, saidfirst panel partition elements other than the opposed zig-Zag edgesbeing symmetrical about a transverse center of said first panel, saidsecond panel having two longitudinally disposed cut-out portionsseparated from each other by a transverse portion of said second paneland defining two identically outlined second panel partition elementsadapted to be swung out of the plane of said blank with each secondpanel partition element projecting to oppoiste sides of said blank, saidsecond panel having a pair of portions projecting into each of saidsecond panel partition elements in generally opposed relation and beingintegrally connected to a respective one of said second panel partitionelements along spaced aligned transverse hinge lines and the hinge linesof said first panel partition elements and said second panel partitionelements being slightly longitudinally offset from each other.

4. A blank for forming a separator for use in a bottle carrier, saidblank being rectangular in outline and comprising first and secondpanels integrally and hingedly connected along a line disposedlongitudinally of said blank, said first panel having a single centralcut-out portion defining two partition elements, each of said partitionelements being hingedly connected along a line widely spaced from theends of said partition elements to said first panel and adapted to beswung out of the plane of said blank with each partition elementprojecting to opposite sides of said blank, said second panel having twoseparate cut-out portions each defining a partition element, each ofsaid partition elements being hingedly connected along a line widelyspaced from the ends of said partition elements to said second panel andadapted to be swung out of the plane of said blank with each partitionelement projecting to opposite sides of said blank and the hingeconnections of said first and second panel partition elements beingslightly longitudinally oifset from each other.

5. A separator for use in a bottle carrier comprising an elongated bodyincluding two opposed contiguous panels adapted to extend between tworows of bottles, partition members each including a partition elementfrom each of said panels extending transversely from opposite sides ofsaid body a material distance for extending between adjacent bottles ofrows of bottles, the partition elements of each panel being initiallydisposed in the re spective panel in opposed relation, first ones ofsaid partition elements being formed from a single opening in a firstone of said panels, and second ones of said partition elements beingformed from two openings disposed in spaced, longitudinal relation inthe second one of said panels with said second panel having a verticallyextending body portion disposed intermediate said spaced openings andforming a bottle separating element centrally of said partition members.

6. A separator for use in separating six units disposed in two rows ofthree units each, said separator comprising an elongated body adapted toextend between rows of units, said body including interconnected panelsdisposed in back-to-back relationship, partition members extendingtransversely to opposite sides of said body for extending betweenadjacent units in rows of units, each partition member including apartition element from each of said panels, first ones of said partitionelements being formed from a single opening in a first one of saidpanels, and second ones of said partition elements being formed from twoopenings disposed in spaced, longitudinal relation in the second one ofsaid panels with said second panel having a centrally disposedvertically extending body portion disposed intermediate said spacedopenings and forming a unit separating element centrally of saidpartition members and said single opening, and said first panel havingbody portions at the opposite end of said single opening overlappingsaid second openings.

7. A bottle carrier assembly comprising a carrier and a separator, saidcarrier including a bottom wall for supporting two rows of bottles, apair of side walls connected to said bottom wall for confining bottlesalong opposite sides of the rows of bottles, and bottle positioningmeans connected to said side walls, said bottom wall being formed of twopanels connected together by inwardly directed locking tabs, saidseparator including an elongated body defined by two opposed contiguouspanels integrally connected at the bottom edge portions thereof alongspaced aligned fold lines separated by downwardly spaced extending tabs,said tabs being seated on said bottom wall and being spaced inaccordance with the spacing of said locking tabs to provide recesses insaid body receiving said locking tabs, said body being located along alongitudinal center of said carrier for positioning between two rows ofbottles, said separator also including partition members formed fromsaid panels for positioning between adjacent bottles of rows of bottles,each of said partition members including a partition element formed fromeach of said panels and projecting a material distance to both sidessaid body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,135,678 11/38Scotcher 229-29 2,304,683 12/42 Finn 220-1l3 2,346,788 4/44 Rice.3,031,813 5/62 Ganz. 3,098,583 7/63 Sherman 2201l3 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT,Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner,

1. A SEPARATOR FOR USE IN A BOTTLE CARRIER ADAPTED TO SEPARATE ROWS OFBOTTLES AND ADJACENT BOTTLES IN EACH ROW COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODYADAPTED TO EXTEND BETWEEN TWO ROWS OF BOTTLES, SAID ELONGATED BODYCOMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND PANELS DISPOSED IN BACK-TO-BACK RELATIONSHIPAND INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER ALONG A PAIR OF COOPERATING EDGES SAIDFIRST PANEL HAVING PARTITION ELEMENTS PERTIALLY STRUCK FROM THE CENTRALPOARTION THEREOF AND BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SIAID FIRST PANEL ALONGSPACED ALIGNED LINES, OPPOSED EDGES OF SAID FIRST PANEL PARTITIONELEMENTS BEING SEPARATED ALONG A ZIG-ZAG LINE WHEREBY THE COMBINEDLENGTH OF SAID FIRST PANEL PARTITION ELEMENTS IS GREATER THAN THE LENGTHOF THE SPACE FROM WHICH SAIF FIRST PANEL PARTITION ELEMENTS ARE STRUCK,SAID SECOND PANEL HAVING PARTITION ELEMENTS PARTIALLY STRUCK FROMCENTRAL PORTIONS THEREOF AND BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID SECONDPANEL ALONG SPACED ALIGNED LINES, THE PARTITIN ELEMENTS OF SAID FIRSTPANEL BEING IN BACK-TO-BACK RELATIONSHIP TO THE PARTITION ELEMENTS OFSAID SECOND PANEL TO THUS FORM COMPOSITE PARTITION MEMBERS, THE HINGECONNECTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PANEL PARTITION ELEMENTS OF EACHPARTITION MEMBER BEING COOPERATIVELY ADJACENT EACH OTHER FOR MOVEMENT OFTHE COMPOSITE PARTITION MEMBERS OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID ELONGATED BODYTO POSITIONS EXTENDING LATERALLY TO EACH SIDE OF SAID ELONGATED BODY,AND THE OVERALL LENGTH OF EACH OF SAID PARTITION MEMBERS BEING GREATERTHAN THE LENGTH OF EITHER OF THE PARTITION ELEMENTS FORMING SAIDPARTITION MEMBER.